Gordon Pines Barrens 50

The Gordon Pine Barrens 50 (GPB50) inaugural year went very well. We saw 130 riders from 6 States and 55 different communities. The feedback for our riders gave the overall feeling of success. Many positive comments about the rustic, challenging, and motor vehicle free roadways and trails. The event saw a high level of competition and at the same time provided a high quality “laid back feel.”

As the GPB plans on maintaining an annual race, we desire to keep the “grass roots small town feel,” while making slight adjustments to our event to best meet the needs of our riders and community. Our projection is to grow to our capacity of 300 riders by race day on Saturday, June 13, 2026.

Gordon is a township that covers 157 sq. mi with only 770 permanent residents. The route has been mapped to not cross County or State highways that border the township, excluding crossing Hwy Y east of Gordon near race end. The course is 53.75 miles in distance, climbing 2,500 ft of total elevation. It will be safe, quiet, and interesting, and would be rated as moderate in relation to difficulty.

The ride will include approximately 5 miles of pavement in 4 different sectors including the 2.5 mile start roll out. Surfaces will be a mixed bag of good gravel, good sand/gravel mix, hard pack loamy sand with very few spots of navigable sugar sand. The course has been decided upon based on the least problem with sugar sand and using the best gravel roads and trails in the area.

The 25 mile event will be on the same course as the 50 mile race, but will take a cut off that will shorten the course. The GPB25 is 23.6 miles with 1095' of climbing and 85% unpaved surface. Same start area and time, same roll out, same finish, just an abbreviated adventure.